We are a public: TLV human rights march impressions

"Racism isn't an incurable disease" (photo: Dimi Reider)

In a way, it was like a Friday afternoon family gathering - complete with the annoying relatives. Yes, the provocateurs were there. I saw them in the distance upon arrival: a cluster of Israeli flags. At first I failed to recognize them. The Israeli flag has not yet been entirely confiscated by the fascist right. There were a few of them flown nearby, by such Zionist-left entities as the Meretz political party.

Those distant flags, however, belonged to “Im Tirzu”. A highly chauvinistic group of the Israeli extreme right who opted to join the march and claim “rights for Israelis”. It is typical for the enemies of democracy to take advantage of democracy itself, gain power through it, then cause it to disintegrate. “Im Tirzu” announced their intention to take part in the annual march organized by the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI). The association, which fights for freedom of speech among other causes, could not deny them the right or it would be blamed for hypocrisy.

So the fascists came, but police, fearing conflict, treated their presence as a counter-demonstration and isolated them in the back. Their activists were not allowed into Rabin Square, where the rally ended with speeches and music. Moreover, their provocation lost its steam thanks to the presence of at least one far more exciting group. The African asylum seekers (referred to in the Israeli media and by most local politicians as “infiltrators”) came by the multitude and brought astounding energies with them. They certainly stole the show.

In the end, what was most moving was the combination of civil organizations all working to better this place. Some groups considered as poles within the spectrum of the left, such as the “National Left” and “Anarchists against Walls” marched side by side. In between were countless other groups: “Sheikh Jarrah Solidarity”, “Rabbis for Human Rights”, “Combatants for Peace”, “The Bereaved Families Forum”, LGBT organizations, labor unions, political parties, et al.

The Israeli left, which suffered a great blow since the second intifada, must recover quickly in the wake of fascism. This week, further dour developments occurred. Fifty rabbis signed a letter forbidding Jews from selling or renting property to Arabs. While the parade took place, soldiers were shooting a copious amount of tear gas on non-violent demonstrators in the village of Ni’ilin. Things most certainly are deteriorating here, which is why seeing us unite was so moving.

Indeed, the statements of 130 organizations participating in the march are diverse, but there is at least one light we can follow: the concept of human rights. the target audience of today’s march were its own participants. We saw that we are a multitude, that we get along well, that we are not afraid and we can make a difference. Yes, a sudden rainstorm did scatter people out of the square right as things were coming to a close, but even brave people don’t see a reason to get drenched.

I saw the bravest people I know at that parade today, from nobler author and ACRI leader Sami Michael, to Amal A-Sana al-Hajouj, a Bedouin female activist who spoke of the demolished village of Al-Araqib and its relation to the other struggles. Al Hajouj said she asked Michael whether he was moved by the occasion. “If I weren’t,” he said, “that would mean that I no longer care for these issues.” I too, was moved, and so were 10,000 other participants, all of them allies in difficult and challenging times.

For additional original analysis and breaking news, visit +972 Magazine's Facebook page or follow us on Twitter. Our newsletter features a comprehensive round-up of the week's events. Sign up here.

[...] was a feeling of warmth and goodwill at that march; Yuval Ben-Ami compares it to a Friday afternoon family gathering – complete with ‘annoying relatives’ (a few dozen right-wing protesters who [...]

[...] rains hit Israel yesterday, thousands people gathered in central Tel Aviv to mark international Human Rights Day. The occasion brought together various Israeli NGO’s and thousands of concerned citizens in the [...]

[...] rains hit Israel yesterday, thousands people gathered in central Tel Aviv to mark international Human Rights Day. The occasion brought together various Israeli NGOs and thousands of concerned citizens in the [...]

[...] rains hit Israel yesterday, thousands people gathered in central Tel Aviv to mark international Human Rights Day. The occasion brought together various Israeli NGO’s and thousands of concerned citizens in the [...]

[...] hit Israel yesterday, thousands people gathered in central Tel Aviv to mark international Human Rights Day. The occasion brought together various Israeli NGOs and thousands of concerned citizens in the [...]

Reply to Comment

SUBSCRIBE

OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

Yuval Ben-Ami is an author, journalist, musician, radio host and cultural critic. A native of Jerusalem, he traveled Europe and North America extensively in his twenties, busking and writing for Israeli and international media. Since 2005 he has been resettled in Israel. Ben-Ami published six books in Hebrew, among them critically acclaimed novels “I’ll meet you Halfway” and “The Tel-Avivian Comedy”. He is the author of seven online travelogues in English, including “The Round Trip”, “Last Metro to Taksim”, and “The Beaten Path”, composed for 972 Magazine. He serves as expert on the Holy Land for National Geographic Expeditions. You may reach him at yuvalba@gmail.com

About +972 Magazine

+972 is an independent, blog-based web magazine. It was launched in August 2010, resulting from a merger of a number of popular English-language blogs dealing with life and politics in Israel and Palestine.

+972 is an independent, blog-based web magazine. It was launched in August 2010, resulting from a merger of a number of popular English-language blogs dealing with life and politics in Israel and Palestine.